During spring training, I will dive into injuries once a week. I will use my knowledge and what is being reported by the team to give an estimated return date and performance outlook for the rest of the season.
Aaron Judge – First Rib Stress Fracture
Aaron Judge was finally able to get an exact diagnosis for his shoulder pain this past week, a first rib stress fracture. Judge is still a candidate for surgery but is taking a conservative approach to see if the rib will heal on its own. I would be shocked if Judge is ready to go after his two weeks of rest, and since this injury didn’t improve in the off-season after occurring during the 2019 playoffs, I’m concerned about having Judge on my team during 2020.
I think that the best-case scenario will have Judge back in two to three months; the worst case is having surgery that will add on another month or two. This is a strange case that will depend on how well the rib is healing, so there are a lot of moving parts here.
Return date: Aggressive – Mid-May/Conservative – Early July
Chris Sale – Elbow Flexor Strain
Chris Sale is now dealing with an elbow flexor strain. I think this is a high-risk, high-reward situation because there is a chance that his elbow holds up this season. It sounds like Sale has a minor tear of his UCL, similar to what Masahiro Tanaka dealt with a couple of seasons ago. But once Sale starts throwing again in a couple of weeks, we will get a lot of information quickly. If he falls to me in drafts where I feel like he is a good value, round 15ish for myself personally, I will take that risk. But we shouldn’t be surprised if Sale is recommended for Tommy John towards the end of the month when he starts throwing again.
Return date: Late May* (Unless recommended for surgery)
Yordan Alvarez – Knee Soreness
Yordan Alvarez has been dealing with knee soreness. He should only be out of a couple of days. I would expect him to return to Grapefruit League action towards the middle/end of next week without issue. Consider him day to day.
Return date: End of next week
Jorge Alfaro – Oblique Tightness
Jorge Alfaro was cleared for light hitting and throwing. He is on track to be ready for Opening Day. If you’re targeting Alfaro in drafts, draft with confidence.
Return date: Opening Day
A.J. Puk – Shoulder Strain
A.J. Puk was shut down earlier in the week with a shoulder strain. His MRI came back clean, and Puk should resume throwing soon. I would expect that he will be good to go in the next week or two. Puk may miss the first week or two of the season, but once he returns, he should be good to go. If you are targeting Puk in drafts, then draft him with confidence.
Return date: End of March/Early April
Fernando Tatis Jr. – Flu
Fernando Tatis Jr. has been dealing with the flu for the past week. His timetable to return to Spring Training action is dependent on how much longer he is sick. I would not expect him to miss Opening Day. We will consider him day to day for the time being.
Return date: Opening Day
Dellin Betances – Achilles Repair
Dellin Betances will take the mound for the first time this spring today (March 7th), which is the last big hurdle in his recovery. If you’re targeting Betances in drafts, then you can draft him with confidence that he will be able to perform.
Return date: Opening Day
If there is a player you would like information on, leave a comment or send me a tweet, and I will reply as I’m able!
Featured Image by Justin Paradis (@freshmeatcomm on Twitter)
Too many of my players on my teams for my liking today. But great job recapping everything Jake!